Triad Semiconductor's programmable analog in production with austriamicrosystems

Triad Semiconductor, whose via-configurable arrays offer programmable analog with a microcontroller, has chosen to use austriamicrosystems as its foundry partner.

Apparently, Triad's VCA technology has been developed using austriamicrosystems advanced analog specialty 0.35m CMOS embedded EEPROM process technology and it's chips are being manufactured in austriamicrosystems 8 inch SMIF fab. Triad's latest VCAs comprise the Mocha line, which is based on a high performance, low power 32-bit processor. According to Triad, what is unique about its proposition is the ability to configure and interconnect all chip resources using a single via mask layer, facilitating IP reuse and reducing engineering and tooling costs.

Triad's latest family of VCAs combine 32-bit ARM cores with program and data memory, plus up to 500,000 configurable ASIC gates. Customers - typically those in the medical, industrial, sensor and military/aerospace sectors - can choose from a variety of analog building blocks to realise their single chip mixed signal SoC design. Triad will work with customers to realise their specifications from 'napkin to ASIC', as the company's website explains.

"Triad's via-configurable array technology enables ASIC customers to rapidly develop prototypes of their products," said Thomas Riener, General Manager Full Service Foundry at austriamicrosystems. "It helps shorten the development phase and supports fast product ramp-ups which ultimately results in a reduced time-to-profits. Once requiring high volume production, customers can either further optimise the VCA or easily change to pure ASIC manufacturing."